A study by
Caltech astronomers reports that the
Milky Way Galaxy contains at least one planet per star, resulting in approximately 100–400 billion
exoplanets. The study, based on planets orbiting the star
Kepler-32, suggests that
planetary systems may be the norm around stars in our galaxy.[2]
Astronomers report the discovery of giant "geysers" of charged particles emanating from the core of the Milky Way Galaxy. These outflows, which extend as far as 50,000
light-years from the
galactic plane, are thought to be fuelled by intense star formation.[3][4]
LG Electronics releases the first commercial
OLED television. OLED screens are thinner, more efficient and capable of displaying images with greater definition than conventional
LCD and
plasma screens.[5]
Toyota demonstrates an
autonomous car capable of sensing and reacting to its surroundings, monitoring its driver and communicating with other vehicles.[14]
6 January
British researchers successfully cure
blindness in
mice using an injection of photosensitive cells. Following additional testing, the treatment could be used to heal humans with
retinitis pigmentosa.[15][16]
China is reported to be experiencing a rapid growth in the use of
industrial robots, with robot installations increasing at over 10 percent a year.[17]
7 January
Australia experiences its hottest day on record, with nationwide average temperatures exceeding 40
°C amid one of the most intense
bushfire seasons in the country's history.[18][19]
Remarkably well-preserved
zinc pills are discovered aboard a 2,000-year-old
Roman shipwreck, giving a rare insight into
Roman medicine.[20][21]
The
German defence company
Rheinmetall successfully demonstrates a high-powered military
laser that can destroy
drones in mid-flight and cut through steel from over 1 mile (1.6 km) away, even in adverse weather conditions. The company plans to mount the laser on a variety of vehicles for battlefield use.[26][27]
American astronomers announce the discovery of seven new
exocomets – more than double the previously known number of such objects. The exocomets were discovered using the
McDonald Observatory in
Texas, which imaged the chemical signatures of the comets' tails.[28]
An American company unveils a smart
hunting rifle which uses a computerised scope, onboard aiming software and
laser rangefinders to ensure great accuracy even in the hands of novice shooters. The rifle is also
Wi-Fi-enabled, and its software can
record its aiming and firing history, potentially allowing law enforcement agencies to track its use.[40][41]
Astronomers discover a distant cluster of supermassive
quasars that is both the largest and brightest structure in the known universe, spanning approximately four billion light-years.[44]
New high-precision observations of the
asteroid99942 Apophis reveal that it is almost certain that the asteroid will not strike the Earth in 2036, despite earlier scientific concern over its trajectory.[45]
12 January – Official sources state that
Beijing's air is now hazardous to human health, after years of mounting
air pollution. The city's air contains as much as 20 times the
World Health Organization's recommended amount of toxic particles.[48]
13 January –
Massachusetts doctors invent a pill-sized medical scanner that can be safely swallowed by patients, allowing the
esophagus to be more easily scanned for diseases.[49]
15 January – The first museum of
3D-printed artifacts opens in China.[50]
17 January –
NASA announces that the Keplerspace observatory has developed a
reaction wheel issue and will discontinue operation for 10 days in the interest of solving the problem. Three functional reaction wheels are needed to accurately aim the telescope; one of Kepler's original four reaction wheels failed in July 2012. If this second wheel issue is not resolved, NASA may be forced to end the long-running Kepler mission altogether.[51][52]
18 January –
Japanese researchers create a "privacy visor" which uses near-
infrared light to render its wearer unrecognizable to
facial recognition software.[53]
21 January – Architects begin preparations for constructing the world's first
3D-printed building. The building will be constructed of a high-strength artificial
marble laid down by an industrial-scale 3D printer, and is planned for completion in 2014.[55]
Scientists encode large amounts of digital information, including the complete
sonnets of
William Shakespeare, on a single strand of
synthetic DNA. DNA has immense potential as a storage medium, and may become commercially available for this purpose in the near future.[60]
A British amputee becomes the first person in the UK to receive the
Michelangelo Hand, an advanced new
bionic hand, which uses electrodes to precisely mimic muscle movements and which can be used even for delicate engineering tasks.[62]
Kenya begins the construction of the
Konza Technology City, a
planned city that is hoped to become a hub of African science and technology upon its completion in 2030.[63]
An international team of scientists develops a functional light-based "
tractor beam", which allows individual cells to be selected and moved at will. The invention could have broad applications in medicine and
microbiology.[65]
Scientists design an
evolution-inspired organic
solar cell with a novel geometric pattern that increases its energy-harvesting efficiency.[66]
New measurements performed by European scientists reveal that the radius of the
proton is 4 percent smaller than previously estimated.[67]
Bolivian scientists restore brain function to
stroke-affected
rats by injecting them with
stem cells. This breakthrough may lead to more effective treatments for strokes in humans.[69]
American medical researchers develop a painless polymer skin patch that can be used to inject
DNA vaccines without a conventional needle, and also increases the initial effectiveness of the vaccine delivered.[70]
An American research team uses the world's most powerful
supercomputer at the time – the
IBM Sequoia – to perform a record-breaking computation, modelling an experimental
jet engine on over one million
processor cores.[71]
ESA scientists report that the
ionosphere of the planet
Venus streams outwards in a manner similar to "the ion tail seen streaming from a
comet under similar conditions."[75][76]
30 January –
South Korea conducts its first successful orbital launch, using the
Naro-1 rocket to place a satellite into orbit.[77]
31 January
British scientists achieve a breakthrough in
synthetic biology, developing microscopic biological "factories" that can be assembled in hours and which could be used to deliver medicines, produce
biofuels and mine underground minerals.[78]
The ESA, in collaboration with a group of architectural firms, designs and tests a
3D-printed structure that can be built out of lunar
regolith to serve as a
Moon base.[80]
Japanese scientists genetically modify a transparent
zebrafish specimen to produce a visible glow during periods of intense brain activity, allowing the fish's "thoughts" to be recorded as specific regions of its brain light up in response to external stimuli.[81]
February
1 February
Stanford University physicists discover that atom-thin sheets of
graphene are 100 times more chemically reactive than thicker sheets. This reactivity may be crucial to developing new practical applications for graphene, which is already widely known for its immense strength and conductivity.[82]
Medical researchers develop a new method of efficiently detecting cancer using
bioelectric signals. In addition, they were able to manipulate cellular electric charge levels to prevent certain cells from developing cancer.[83]
Californian researchers use
genetic modification to rejuvenate ageing blood cells, strengthening the
immune systems of elderly mice. If human trials prove successful, this treatment could allow older people to more effectively resist disease.[85]
The
British Army begins using a miniature
drone helicopter in
Afghanistan. The aerial surveillance robot weighs just 16 grams, and can be remotely piloted into difficult terrain to detect hidden enemy positions.[87]
4 February
American researchers develop a new molecular therapy which can cross the
blood–brain barrier to deliver medicines to the brain, potentially helping to treat neurological diseases such as
Parkinson's disease.[88]
A much-vaunted experimental
vaccine for
tuberculosis proves to be largely ineffective against the disease in human trials.[89]
Australian engineers build a "quantum microscope" which offers unprecedented levels of precision in measuring live biological systems.[91]
Sea urchins are discovered to be capable of efficiently converting
carbon dioxide into raw material for their shells, potentially offering a new method of
carbon capture for industrial purposes.[92]
Halley VI, a new British
Antarctic research station, begins operation. The station, which is mounted on hydraulic ski-legs to allow it to be towed across the ice, features an advanced modular design and is expected to endure the Antarctic climate until 2050.[95]
In a series of separate developments, American and Japanese engineers create 3D printers that can produce edible meals with a range of flavours and textures on demand. These could both replace conventional
ready meals and allow astronauts to enjoy a far more varied diet.[96]
Astronomers report that 6% of all
dwarf stars – the most common stars in the known universe – may host Earthlike planets. Additionally, some such
exoplanets may exist only 13 light-years from Earth.[97]
Scientists discover live
bacteria in the subglacial Antarctic Lake Whillans.[98]
NASA's
Curiosity Mars rover uses its onboard drill to obtain the first deep rock sample ever retrieved from the surface of another planet.[103]
A genetically engineered strain of the vaccinia virus is found to triple the average survival time of patients with a severe form of
liver cancer.[104]
The
Large Hadron Collider (LHC) begins a planned two-year shutdown, during which it will undergo a major systems upgrade. Upon its reactivation in 2014, the LHC will operate at an energy of approximately 14
teraelectronvolts – double its current maximum energy.[109]
Researchers develop a specialized neural implant which gives
rats the ability to sense
infrared light – a pioneering use of implant technology to grant
living creatures new abilities, instead of simply replacing or augmenting existing ones.[110]
The United States
Food and Drug Administration approves the first functional commercial
bionic eye, the
Argus II, for the treatment of blindness. The device, which became available in Europe in 2011, uses a combination of ocular implants and camera-equipped glasses to restore vision to people blinded by
retinitis pigmentosa.[111]
The asteroid
2012 DA14, which masses around 130,000 tons, makes the closest Earth flyby yet recorded for a large asteroid, passing within 27,000 kilometres (17,000 mi) of the Earth's surface.[114]
Cornell University scientists use a 3D printer to create a living artificial
ear from
collagen and ear cell cultures. In future, such ears could be grown to order for patients with ear trauma or amputation.[121]
University of Pennsylvania researchers develop a "protein passport" able to bypass the body's immune system. This could aid the delivery of medicinal nanoparticles in future
nanomedicine.[124]
22 February – Data gathered from
Siberian ice caves reveals that continued global warming may lead to widespread thawing of
permafrost, potentially releasing massive volumes of trapped
carbon dioxide and
methane into the atmosphere.[125]
23 February – A US inventor builds a "
spider-sense" bodysuit, equipped with
ultrasonic sensors and
haptic feedback systems, which can alert its wearer of approaching threats and allow them to detect and respond to attackers even when blindfolded.[126]
24 February
Oxford University researchers discover the mechanism by which certain brain cells are able to survive being starved of
oxygen. In future, this research may yield more effective
stroke treatments.[127]
A study finds that
chimpanzees solve puzzles for entertainment just as humans do.[128]
Israel successfully tests its
Arrow 3 missile defence system, designed to destroy enemy
ballistic missiles while they are still high in the Earth's atmosphere.[130]
26 February
American engineers develop a
wirelessly charged flexible battery that can continue to function even if stretched to three times its usual size. With further development, the invention could be used to power flexible smartphones, tablets and medical electronics.[131]
Astronomers use the
NuSTAR satellite to accurately measure the spin of a
supermassive black hole for the first time, reporting that its surface is spinning at almost the speed of light.[133]
An American company constructs a lightweight, high-efficiency urban car with an entirely 3D-printed plastic body that is as damage-resistant as steel. The vehicle's construction is entirely automated, requiring no human input beyond the uploading of the car's design.[134]
28 February
Duke University researchers successfully connect the brains of two rats with electronic interfaces that allow them to directly share information, in the first-ever direct brain-to-brain interface.[135][136]
1 March –
Boston Dynamics demonstrates an updated version of its
BigDog military robot, a
mule-sized heavy-lifting robot able to navigate rough terrain and equipped with an arm powerful enough to easily lift and throw
breeze blocks.[141]
3 March – American scientists report that they have cured
HIV in an infant by giving the child a course of
antiretroviral drugs very early in its life. The previously HIV-positive child has reportedly exhibited no HIV symptoms since its treatment, despite having no further medication for a year.[142]
DARPA begins efforts to develop a fleet of small naval vessels capable of launching and retrieving
combat drones without the need for large and expensive
aircraft carriers.[144]
In a U.S. first, researchers replace a large part of an injured patient's
skull with a precision 3D-printed polymer replacement implant.[145]
5 March – The
Human Connectome Project releases the most detailed scans of the human brain yet made, allowing
neuroscientists to more accurately study the complexities of the brain's structure and identify the causes of neural disorders.[146]
6 March
After studying the DNA of a modern
African American, scientists estimate that the
Y-chromosomal Adam – the most recent male common ancestor of human beings – lived much earlier than previously thought, over 338,000 years ago.[147]
Chinese and Israeli scientists develop a
Breathalyzer-style breath test that can quickly and easily diagnose
stomach cancer by analyzing exhaled chemicals, without the need for an intrusive
endoscopy.[148]
7 March
After an eight-year project involving the use of a pioneering
cloning technique, Japanese researchers create 25 generations of healthy cloned mice with normal lifespans, demonstrating that clones are not intrinsically shorter-lived than naturally born animals.[149]
An international project known as Bedmap2 analyses 50 years of data to measure the volume of
Antarctic ice, finding it to be 26,500,000 cubic kilometres (6,400,000 cu mi), which would raise global sea levels by 58 metres (190 ft) if it melted.[150]
Scientists from
Oregon State University reconstruct the global temperature record since the end of the
last ice age. Their data, taken from 73 sites around the world, shows a clear and rapid warming trend in the 20th and early 21st centuries.[151]
Tests on mice demonstrate conclusive proof that
resveratrol, a compound found in
red wine, improves health and longevity.[152]
9 March
British
dental researchers grow viable
teeth from a combination of
gingival cells and stem cells, potentially allowing future patients to receive living teeth to replace diseased or damaged ones.[153]
Roboticists launch an online database and
cloud computing platform which can be accessed by robots worldwide, allowing them to more easily recognise unfamiliar objects and perform intensive computing tasks.[154]
Researchers develop smart self-healing circuits that can rapidly restore themselves to a fully functional state by detecting and neutralising electronic faults.[157]
Lockheed Martin develops a new method for
desalination that is reportedly vastly cheaper and more efficient than conventional methods. The new technique uses carbon membranes with nanoscale pores to efficiently filter salt molecules from seawater to make drinkable water.[163]
14 March
CERN scientists confirm, with a very high degree of certainty, that a new particle identified by the
Large Hadron Collider in July 2012 is the long-sought
Higgs boson.[164]
Scientists induce
monkey skin cells to become healthy brain cells which function normally when implanted into the donor monkey's brain. This breakthrough suggests that such
personalized medicine approaches could be effective in human patients.[165]
15 March – Scientists working on the Lazarus Project announce that they have successfully rejuvenated cells of Rheobatrachus silus, a species of frog extinct since 1983.[166]
New data suggests that the
Mariana Trench, the deepest point on the Earth's surface, is home to a large amount of
bacterial life forms.[167][168] Other researchers reported related studies that microbes thrive inside rocks up to 580 m (1,900 ft) below the sea floor under 2,600 m (8,500 ft) of ocean off the coast of the northwestern United States.[167][169]
If global average temperatures rise by just 2 °C, the number of extreme storm surges like
Hurricane Katrina will increase tenfold, according to new research.[171]
US scientists successfully map 80% of the
neurons in a vertebrate brain at cellular-level resolution in just 1.3 seconds.[172]
Pluto may have up to 10 moons, along with at least one
ring system, according to a new study.[174]
19 March
The
Neanderthal genome is sequenced by German scientists from a toe bone found in southern
Siberia.[175]
Scientists announce they can now illuminate up to 100
biomarkers, ten times more than the previous standard. This breakthrough may make it much easier to spot proteins in cancer cells – a vital diagnostic technique.[176]
NASA reports that a software computer problem on the Curiosity Mars rover is now repaired.[177][178]
Researchers at the
University of Cambridge demonstrate a virtual "talking head" with realistic emotions, which could lead to more naturalistic human-computer interactions.[179]
Swiss scientists develop a medical scanner that can be implanted just under the skin and can monitor a range of blood-related conditions, providing instant results via mobile phone. They say it will be available to patients by 2017.[180]
Scientists develop a video screen that allows users to see 3D images without using special glasses.[184]
Scientists develop genetically engineered
T-lymphocytes that have been proven successful in treating cases of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.[185]
22 March – At the 44th annual Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, scientists announce the discovery of the first known meteorite to originate from
Mercury. The green rock, known as NWA 7325, is thought to be 4.56 billion years old.[186]
Scientists discover mutations in 26 genes that are believed to be responsible for
oesophageal cancer, a breakthrough that could lead to new drug treatments for the disease.[188]
27 March – A potential new weight loss method is discovered, after a 20% weight reduction was achieved in mice simply by having their
gut microbes altered.[189]
28 March
New research suggests that the cloth in the
Turin Shroud, rather than being
medieval in origin, likely dates from between 300 BC and 400 AD.[190]
29 March – Scientists create a robotic
ant colony that behaves like a real one. The tiny machines can be programmed to avoid obstacles and find the quickest route through a network or maze.[193]
April
3 April
A breakthrough is achieved in the production of
hydrogen fuel, allowing large quantities to be extracted from any plant.[194]
A new camera system is developed that can generate high-resolution 3D images from up to a kilometre away.[204]
7 April – A US
startup company develops plant-derived proteins that can be used as a sustainable, environmentally friendly substitute for
eggs in almost all food products.[205]
9 April
At the 2013 Sea-Air-Space Exposition, American defense companies display prototypes of numerous advanced weapons technologies, including viable
railguns,
VTOLairships and
grenade-sized reconnaissance robots.[206]
British researchers discover that a mutation of the gene
BRCA2 increases both the risk and severity of
prostate cancer in men, as well as being linked to hereditary
breast cancer in women.[207]
Chinese scientists develop a
carbon-based
aerogel which they claim is the lightest material yet produced, with a density only slightly greater than that of air.[208]
Stanford University researchers develop "CLARITY", a method of making brain tissue transparent using
acrylamide, allowing brain structures to be studied in unprecedented detail without requiring extensive
biopsies.[210]
Scientists develop the first objective method of measuring
pain by directly studying the brains of patients.[211]
Scientists find that, by inhibiting the
SEC24A gene,
cholesterol levels in mice can be reduced by 45%, offering hope for an alternative or complementary therapy to
statins.[212][213]
11 April
International researchers discover key similarities in the brains of
arthropods and
vertebrates, potentially aiding scientific understanding of the causes of human neural diseases.[214]
Philips demonstrates a new type of
LED lighting that is reportedly twice as energy-efficient as any previous electric lightbulb.[215]
A study finds that carefully timed sounds played during
sleep can enhance
memory.[216]
Scientists reconstruct the skeleton of the ancient
hominidAustralopithecus sediba, discovering that it possessed a unique mixture of human- and ape-like traits.[219]
The first building to be entirely powered by
algae is constructed in
Hamburg.[220]
16 April – American medical researchers develop a new type of
bandage which uses microscopic needles to adhere to injured flesh. The bandage requires no adhesive chemicals, is significantly stronger than existing medical adhesives, and could offer a safer and more efficient means of securing
skin grafts.[224]
17 April
Scientists develop a new form of
lithium-ion battery which is thousands of times more powerful than current battery technologies, while also charging much faster. The battery utilises a compact 3D design, intertwining its
electrodes to maximize its surface area while reducing its volume.[225]
MIT researchers determine the structure of
bones down to the molecular level, using
supercomputer simulations twinned with studies of real bone fibers. Their data grants new insights into the compounds that grant living bone its strength, and may permit the manufacture of versatile new
biomimetic materials.[226]
Biologists use
antibodies to transform
bone marrowstem cells directly into healthy brain cells. This breakthrough may allow neurological injuries and illnesses to be more effectively treated, and reduces the risk of
immune rejection.[232]
A British engineer unveils a giant "
mantis" robot, large enough to carry a human pilot, which is supported by multiple
hydraulic legs. The robot has reportedly attracted the interest of mining and marine research companies.[234]
24 April
IBM develops a robot which combines
telepresence and
augmented reality technologies to assist engineers working on complex projects in remote areas.[235]
CERN releases new particle-collision data from the
Large Hadron Collider which may help explain why matter became dominant over
antimatter in the early universe.[236]
Following laboratory tests of molten
iron, European scientists determine that the
Earth's core has a temperature of 6,000 degrees
Celsius, 1,000 degrees hotter than previously thought. This discovery may help explain why the planet has such a strong
geomagnetic field.[238]
US and Chinese scientists develop a
sensor array which is as sensitive to touch and pressure as the human fingertip. The invention may pave the way for new
robotic sensors, electronic interfaces and types of
artificial skin.[239]
27 April – Design approval is given for a crucial reactor component of the
ITERnuclear fusion project, which is currently under construction in
Cadarache,
France, and is expected to begin generating fusion power in 2022.[240]
NASA-funded scientists in Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute claim that, during experiments on the
International Space Station,
microbes seem to adapt to the
space environment in ways "not observed on Earth" and in ways that "can lead to increases in growth and
virulence".[244]
Researchers discover that
boron nitride – a nanomaterial also known as "white
graphene" – is highly effective at removing harmful chemicals from polluted water, and could be used to clean up future
oil spills.[246]
2 May –
Harvard scientists unveil
RoboBee, a miniature robot with the smallest ever man-made wings capable of flight.[248]
3 May
Scientists announce the discovery of a previously unknown meat-eating
theropod dinosaur, Aorun zhaoi, dating from approximately 161 million years ago. It is the oldest
coelurosaur yet discovered.[249]
Researchers cure
epilepsy in mice using transplanted brain cells.[250]
6 May
It is shown that boosting a single gene can increase the maximum lifespan of
fruit flies by over 25 percent.[251]
European researchers announce a potential cure for
grey hair.[252]
American scientists transform skin cells into bone cells using induced
pluripotent methods, in which the cells were grown on scaffolding, allowing them to gain a 3D structure. This is the first time a fully functioning three-dimensional bone structure has been created from cell lines.[253]
A new study finds that children whose parents suck on their
pacifiers have fewer
allergies later in life.[254]
Solar engineers discover a method of increasing the efficiency of standard commercial silicon
solar cells from 19% to 23%.[255]
7 May
A new study suggests that all Europeans are related to a small group of ancestors dating back only 1,000 years.[256]
8 May – Researchers achieve a significant breakthrough in understanding
genital herpes, which could lead to the development of a vaccine to prevent and treat HSV-2.[260]
9 May
In a breakthrough they describe as "huge", researchers have identified a protein that reduces heart size and thickness in mice. This could potentially offer a way of treating
heart failure and
aging in humans.[261]
The concentration of
carbon dioxide (CO2) in
Earth's atmosphere reaches a symbolic milestone, passing 400 ppm (parts per million) for the first time in human history.[264][265]
11 May – Researchers develop a thermal invisibility device, measuring 5 cm wide, able to "cloak" objects from heat.[268]
12 May – It is discovered that Utricularia gibba, a carnivorous
bladderwort plant, has the shortest known
DNA sequence of any multicellular plant. It largely lacks "
junk DNA", sequences of code that do not encode
proteins.[269]
13 May – Researchers at NYU school of Medicine identify a key protein mutation, called Ras, that is the mechanism through which
pancreatic cancer cells acquire nutrients.[270]
Four genes implicated in "bad"
cholesterol have been identified in
baboons, a finding that could pave the way for new drugs to prevent human heart disease.[275]
New fossils provide physical evidence that the evolutionary split between
apes and
monkeys may have occurred "25 to 30 million years ago", as long suggested by DNA findings.[276]
A new study finds that the
white blood cell levels in men decrease faster during aging than in women, possibly providing one clue as to why women have longer average lifespans.[279]
Fish have been migrating to the
poles for decades, due to climate change, according to a new study.[280]
A team of Iranian researchers studies
nanotechnology applications in
neuroscience, reporting new results regarding medicine and drug delivery for the brain and nerves.[281]
16 May
Water dating back 2.6 billion years, by far the oldest ever found, is discovered in a Canadian mine.[282]
A new world record has been achieved in wireless data transfer, with 40 Gbit/s transferred at 240 GHz over a distance of one kilometer.[284]
21 May
Genetic samples from a museum specimen have revealed the pathogen that caused the 19th-century
Great Famine of Ireland. The strain is now thought to be extinct.[285]
By blocking a protein known as
NF-kB that is secreted by the
hypothalamus, researchers extend the lifespan of laboratory mice by 20 percent.[286]
22 May
Plans are approved for the world's biggest
wave farm in north-west
Scotland, with an intended power-generation capacity of 40MW.[287]
In a significant move to address
climate change,
China announces that it will impose a cap on carbon emissions by 2016.[288]
Researchers at
Purdue University in
West Lafayette,
Indiana, report that Earth is pushing the Moon away more quickly than it has done for most of the past 50 million years.[289]
Researchers in France confirm that atypical activation of different
genes distinct to other tissues occur in all kinds of
cancer. Tumor cells in
lung cancer, for example, express genes, which should be silent, particular to male
sperm production. According to the researchers, "The methodical recognition of ectopic gene activations in cancer cells could serve as a basis for gene signature–guided tumor stratification".[290][291]
23 May – Very early symptoms of
Huntington's disease, such as
depression and anxiety, can be prevented in mice by switching off a
protein, according to a new study.[292]
A team of chemists and physicists from
Japan's
Yokohama National University produce a material that can be developed into mixed, conductive 3D formations, enabling scientists to create customized brain
electrodes.[302]
For the first time, astronomers observe a spinning
neutron star suddenly slowing down.[303]
Freescale Semiconductor introduces KL02, a millimeter-scale microchip that contains almost all the components of a tiny functioning computer.[304]
30 May
New analysis suggests that
turtles evolved a shell 40 million years earlier than previously thought.[305]
Researches find fragments of
meteorites in pieces of
ancient Egyptian jewellery, which were discovered in a cemetery dating back to roughly 3,300 BC near
Cairo in 1911.[315]
1 June – The New York Times reports that "the United States is far and away the world leader in
medical spending, even though numerous studies have concluded that Americans do not get better care."[317]
4 June
A new treatment to "reset" the immune system of
multiple sclerosis patients is reported to reduce their reactivity to
myelin by 50 to 75 percent.[318]
Microchip maker
Intel launches its
Haswell series of processors, offering better graphics performance and battery efficiency over the previous processor generation.[320]
5 June
Urban environments have a profound effect on the
circadian rhythms of humans and animals, according to a new study.[322]
Researchers made a new discovery about
tumors in
hominids. They report the finding of the first known tumor in the rib of a
Neanderthal man who lived more than 120,000 years ago.[325]
The multi-year
global surveillance disclosures are launched and indicate that nearly all major technical possibilities for
mass surveillance that emerged in recent decades – such as in Internet infrastructure, software, smartphones and other
IC technologies – are proactively exploited or attempted to be exploited by secret services with a public rationale of counter-terrorism.[326][321]
6 June
For the first time in the United States, a
bioengineeredblood vessel is transplanted into a patient's arm. The patient, a man with end-stage kidney disease, is part of a clinical trial of laboratory-grown veins.[327]
Scientists state that most male birds have no
penis. They ejaculate
sperm out of an exit opening named a
cloaca, which is also used for excreting
urine and
feces.[328][329]
A new
skyscraperelevator is demonstrated using
carbon fiber cables to reach heights of 1,000 metres (3,300 ft) or higher in a single trip, without passengers needing to change lifts.[334][335]
The world's first commercially available 5-GHz computer processor is unveiled by
AMD.[337]
12 June
A new study suggests that
altitude plays a role in
language evolution, explaining why
ejective sounds are more popular in languages of high-altitude regions.[338]
Scientists discover a method to use pressure to make a material expand instead of compress/contract. The pressure-treated material has half the density of the first state.[340]
13 June
Sleep researchers state that natural sleep allows the brain to combine emotional memory, and also find that a popular sleeping drug heightens the recollection of and response to negative memories.[341]
American researchers identify a key embryonic
protein that, though usually deactivated shortly after birth, is reactivated in patients with advanced cancer. This breakthrough may allow for better treatment of advanced cancer cases, which typically respond poorly to currently available therapies. As a result of this discovery, scientists may be able to determine from the structure of the protein the fundamental process through which cancer cells seek out new tumor sites and create secondary tumors after leaving the primary tumor site.[344]
Scientists combine
synchrotron X-rays with scanning tunneling microscopy to create highly detailed images of different materials at the atomic level. By combining the two methods, researchers are now able to not only see where individual atoms reside but also determine a material's chemical and magnetic properties. This discovery could have wide applications in accelerating discoveries in a number of fields, particularly in
nanotechnology.[345]
Sharp Corporation achieves the highest
solar cell energy conversion efficiency to date, of approximately 44.4%, using a concentrator triple-junction compound solar cell.[346]
Two separate teams independently develop prototype flying
bicycles. British engineers construct a hybrid bicycle-
paraglider capable of flying to an altitude of 4,000 feet (1,200 m), while a
Czech team demonstrates a multi-
rotor electric "hoverbike" that can hover like a
helicopter at low altitudes.[349]
Engineers demonstrate a small quadrupedal "
cheetah-cub" robot, with speed and agility approaching that of a real
cat. The prototype is intended as the basis for future search-and-rescue robots with vastly greater speed and agility than human emergency workers.[350]
Weapons manufacturer
MBDA Germany develops a high-powered
laser weapon capable of targeting and destroying incoming rockets, artillery shells and
UAVs.[351]
18 June
Google launches a fleet of high-altitude
balloons capable of beaming wireless internet to remote locations far more cheaply than
satellites.[352]
American scientists use
3D printing to manufacture a new class of microscopic
batteries, which may allow the easy production of extremely small medical devices,
nanorobots and communications systems.[353]
British researchers develop high-resolution 3D
holograms for the teaching of
anatomy to medical students.[354]
19 June – Scientists claim that "cancerproof" laboratory animals, such as
naked mole-rats, may not get
cancer because they produce an "extremely high-molecular-mass
hyaluronan", which is over "five times larger" than that in cancer-prone humans and cancer-susceptible laboratory animals.[355][356]
20 June
Adding
silver particles to
antibiotics makes them 10 to 1,000 times more effective at fighting infections, research suggests.[357]
International neuroscientists produce a full-3D map of a human brain, scanning and digitizing thousands of ultrathin slices of the brain to determine its structure at extremely high resolution. The map will be made freely available to medical researchers worldwide.[358]
During the
Shenzhou 10 mission, Chinese astronauts deliver the country's first public video broadcast from the orbiting
Tiangong-1 space laboratory.[359]
Physicists develop a table-top
particle accelerator with 2 gigaelectronvolts (GeV) of power, downsizing a conventional accelerator by a factor of 10,000.[361][362]
American engineers create a functional, rechargeable nanoscale battery out of
wood. The conductive wooden fibers, coated with
tin, are longer-lasting than any previous nanoscale battery.[363]
The
Israeli-based company NeuroDerm reports good trial results for a new
Parkinson's disease treatment, which involves dermal introduction of two separate drugs.[364]
21 June – Following groundbreaking laboratory tests, researchers discover that plants make use of
quantum effects to efficiently channel
photons during
photosynthesis.[365]
23 June
Scientists find that plants use complex mathematical calculations, similar to human
circadian rhythms, to adjust their energy usage.[366]
Following a large-scale
genome study, researchers identify some of the biological roots of
migraine, a chronic neurological condition affecting as many as 15% of all humans.[367]
Researchers from
Duke University detect
methane in
drinking water in
Pennsylvania, claiming that "serious contamination from bubbly methane is 'much more' prevalent in some water wells within 1 kilometer of
gas drilling sites". The researchers note that methane levels are "an average of six times" higher and
ethane levels are "23 times higher" in the water wells "closer to drilling sites, compared with those farther away."[371]
25 June – In an unprecedented discovery, astronomers detect three potentially Earthlike
exoplanets orbiting a single star in the
Gliese 667 system.[373]
26 June
China's
Shenzhou 10 crewed spacecraft returns safely to Earth, having conducted China's longest human space mission to date.[374]
American scientists partially heal
spinal cord injuries in paralyzed rats by transplanting
nerve cells into the injury sites. These laboratory trials are hoped to be a precursor to human trials in the near future.[375]
Ancient
horse bones dating back 700,000 years are found to contain by far the oldest preserved DNA sequence yet discovered, predating all previous finds by 500,000 years.[376]
27 June
Japanese scientists produce a healthy
clonedmouse from cells contained in a single drop of blood.[377]
British geologists report that 1.3 quadrillion cubic feet of
shale gas are present in shale formations in northern England, potentially heralding a transformation of the British energy market.[378]
Researchers create
genetically engineeredwheat strains resistant to the fungal disease
stem rust, which is a constant threat to wheat crops in the developing world.[379]
Scientists demonstrate an
optical fiber that uses "
twisted light" to transmit massive amounts of information, potentially revolutionizing the field of data transfer. The prototype fiber was able to transmit data at rates of over one
terabit per second.[380][381]
US and German scientists develop a simple and efficient new method for
desalinating seawater, using a small electric field to separate salt from water without needing complex filter membranes.[382]
US and
Swiss researchers develop a new form of telescopic
contact lens designed to improve the vision of those with age-related
macular degeneration, which previously could not be ameliorated with contact lenses.[383]
Molecular biologists successfully trap a
ribosome in the middle of its
protein-forming state, allowing them to study the precise motions it uses to translate genetic code into functional proteins. This discovery sheds new light on the basic building-blocks of life, and may allow the development of new antibiotics.[384]
28 June –
MIT engineers invent a handheld "
X-ray vision" device which allows users to detect movement through walls.[385]
Drinking several cups of coffee daily appears to reduce the risk of
suicide in men and women by about 50%, according to a new study by Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) researchers.[387][388]
Using computer modelling and solar data, Scottish scientists determine that the last living species on Earth in the distant future will be
extremophile microbes able to survive harsh conditions.[389]
Microsoft develops a 3D
touchscreen that uses force sensors and a robotic arm to allow users to "feel" objects that it displays.[390]
The first
Maersk Triple E-class container ships, the largest and most energy-efficient cargo vessels yet constructed, begin sea trials.[391]
In a breakthrough for
regenerative medicine, Japanese scientists grow functional
livers from stem cells and successfully transplant them into mice.[394]
It is reported that naval
sonar can seriously disrupt the behavior of
whales, potentially causing them to fatally beach themselves.[395]
A
New Zealand student designs a "skeletal"
3D-printableorthopedic cast that offers far greater lightness, cleanliness and ventilation than conventional casts, and can be personalized to suit individual patients and specific injuries.[398]
A US study reveals that remaining mentally and physically active in old age is key to slowing the onset of
dementia.[400]
5 July
European researchers create molecular
nanowires which are ultra-sensitive to ambient
magnetic fields, requiring no actual magnetic materials to change their electrical conductivity. The invention, which is similar to the system used for navigation by migratory birds, could have numerous applications in electronics, from improved magnetic sensors and
hard disk drives to enhanced
smartphones.[401]
Scientists record
X-ray videos of
bats in flight, revealing the highly efficient skeletal motion that allows them to fly. This data could be used to design new, more efficient flying robots.[402]
6 July
The
Solar Impulse aircraft completes the first cross-country flight over the United States powered entirely by
solar energy.[403]
Scientists report that a wide variety of microbial life exists in the
subglacial Antarctic
Lake Vostok, which has been buried in ice for around 15 million years. Samples of the lake's water obtained by drilling were found to contain traces of DNA from over 3,000 tiny organisms.[404]
Researchers state that the first baby conceived with a new, cheaper, more efficient form of
IVF is born healthy.[406]
9 July
Scientists develop a blood test for babies that can reportedly predict a person's long-term health and rate of ageing in later life.[407]
A radical new theory of the composition of the
Earth's core is published. It proposes that the shape of the solid
iron core is determined by the atomic structure of the different forms of iron of which it consists.[408]
North Carolina State University researchers demonstrate a method of
3D printing liquid metal at room temperature, forming freestanding structures which maintain their shape despite initially remaining liquid. The invention, which uses an alloy of
gallium and
indium, could allow electronic circuitry and even flexible wiring to be printed on demand.[409][410]
10 July
French scientists construct an ultra-precise
optical lattice clock that misses only one second in 300 million years. The clock's measurements could form a new basis for global time standards, replacing the present generation of
atomic clocks.[citation needed]
For the first time, astronomers determine the true colour of a distant
exoplanet.
HD 189733 b, a searing-hot
gas giant, is said to be a vivid blue colour, most likely due to clouds of
silica in its atmosphere.[412]
12 July – British engineers develop a high-velocity penetrator probe capable of surviving impact forces of 20,000
gravities. The probe could be used to punch through the icy surface of
Jupiter's moon
Europa to search for aquatic life.[416]
15 July
Scientists
sequence the genomes of 201
microbe species in an effort to gain a more detailed understanding of Earth's microbial ecosystem.[417]
NASA engineers successfully test a
rocket engine with a fully 3D-printed injector, proving that critical rocket components can be produced through 3D printing without compromising their effectiveness.[419]
Seismologists report that small
earthquakes occur in a sequence with rapidly increasing frequency prior to a
volcanic eruption. The discovery, described as a "seismic scream", could help predict future eruptions.[420]
16 July
NASA's Curiosity rover reaches a milestone in its journey across
Mars, having travelled 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) since its landing in 2012.[421]
Researchers develop artificial
peroxisomes that can reduce toxic oxygen compounds. This could lead to novel drugs that influence processes directly inside living cells.[422]
17 July
American scientists develop a method of "switching off" the extra
chromosome that causes
Down's syndrome, potentially offering an entirely new treatment for the condition.[423]
British medical researchers create an "intelligent" surgical knife with a built-in
mass spectrometer that can detect
cancerous tissue during operations, allowing surgeons to more accurately and effectively excise
tumors without damaging healthy tissue.[424]
Swedish scientists create a
magnesium carbonate-based material with an unparalleled surface-area-to-volume ratio and excellent water absorption abilities. The new material, dubbed "Upsalite", could have applications in many fields, including electronics, toxic waste cleanup, sanitation and medical drug delivery.[425][426]
In an unprecedented discovery, astronomers directly observe the destruction of a gas cloud larger than Earth's solar system by the
supermassive black hole at the galactic core.[427]
Based on 34 earlier studies, researchers identify remarkable similarities between
the brains of birds and humans.[428]
NASA scientists publish the results of a new analysis of the
atmosphere of Mars, reporting a lack of
methane around the
landing site of the Curiosity rover. In addition, the scientists found evidence that Mars "has lost a good deal of its atmosphere over time", based on the abundance of isotopic compositions of gases, particularly those related to
argon and
carbon.[431][432][433]
Japanese researchers confirm that
muon-type
neutrinos can spontaneously flip to the
electron type, potentially explaining the imbalance of matter and
antimatter during the
Big Bang.[434]
Harvard University medical experts report that a carefully targeted two-drug treatment could be tailored to successfully treat almost any form of cancer.[435]
For the third time in history, Earth is photographed from the outer solar system. NASA's
Cassini spacecraft releases images of the Earth and Moon taken from the orbit of
Saturn.[436]
21 July
British scientists successfully cure blindness in mice with infusions of stem cells that repaired damaged
retinas. It is hoped that a similar treatment can be developed for humans.[437]
American researchers develop a flexible, sensitive "
electronic skin" that mimics real human skin by detecting and responding to different levels of pressure.[439]
22 July
Scientists report that
dolphins have unique vocal names for one another, which they respond to just as humans do.[440]
24 July – A scientific study warns that a major release of
methane from melting
Arctic ice could have immense climatic and economic impacts worldwide.[443]
25 July
British scientists discover the mechanism which causes human
allergy to cats. A cure for the allergy may become commercially available within five years.[citation needed]
Scientists successfully implant
false memories into the brains of mice. This breakthrough could lead to a fuller understanding of human memory.[444]
26 July – Scientists demonstrate a
GM-free process that could dramatically reduce
nitrogen pollution. It allows virtually all of the world's crop species to automatically obtain up to 60% of their nitrogen requirements from air, as opposed to
fertilisers.[445]
28 July – A new DNA probe allows researchers to look for mutations in long sequences of up to 200
base pairs, compared to only 20 pairs using conventional methods.[446]
29 July – Astronomers discover the first
exoplanet orbiting a
brown dwarf, 6,000 light years from Earth.[447]
31 July
An artificial human-like
ear is grown in a lab, using a flexible wire frame to support tissue cultures from cows and sheep.[448]
A Japanese company develops a reusable skin patch which can treat chronic high
blood pressure by constantly releasing
bisoprolol into the bloodstream. It is reported to be safer than conventional blood pressure medication, and is easier to use for patients with swallowing problems.[455]
Full-colour, 3D infrared images have been created by researchers, giving molecular-level chemical information of specimens in unprecedented detail.[456]
A new
deep brain stimulation device can simultaneously record brain activity while delivering therapy. It is hoped the automated system could reveal major insights into a range of neurological and psychological diseases.[458][459]
8 August
In its latest trial, a new
malaria vaccine has been shown to be 100 percent effective.[460]
A breakthrough in tissue engineering has allowed scientists to 'grow' the first true cartilage. The researchers believe entire organs may be possible by 2025.[461]
12 August – A gene linked to idiopathic focal epilepsy (IFE) has been identified by MedUni Vienna researchers.[462]
14 August
In the largest-ever analysis of cancer genomes, researchers have discovered the genetic imprints and signatures left by DNA-damaging processes that lead to
cancer.[463]
Scientists have built a fully functional mouse heart from human tissues.[464]
Seagrass is 35 times more efficient at
absorbing carbon than rainforests, according to research by the University of Technology, Sydney.
15 August
For the first time in 35 years, a new carnivorous mammal species – the
olinguito – has been discovered in the Western Hemisphere.[465]
Extreme
heat waves are likely to quadruple by 2040, according to new research.[469]
Biologists from Tel Aviv University publish a, first of its kind, study on homosexual behavior among insect species.[470]
17 August – In an unprecedented effort by ETH Zurich Laboratories, computational quantum teleportation has been achieved in solid-state circuit. Using quantum entanglement methods, researchers have teleported approximately 10,000 qubits (quantum bits) per second on a specially designed chip.[471]
21 August – The lowest temperature at which single-celled organisms can live and grow is -20 °C, according to new research.[472]
22 August
A study has found more evidence that
nanoparticles may be entering the human food supply, with potentially harmful effects.[473]
NASA has released new images and a video of its planned asteroid capture mission.[475]
27 August
The previous discovery of a new chemical element with atomic number 115 (
moscovium) has been confirmed at
GSI by researchers from Lund University in Sweden.[476][477]
NASA reports that the Mars
Curiosity rover used an
Autonomous Navigation System (or "autonav" - the ability of the rover to decide for itself how to drive safely) over unknown ground for the first time.[478]
University of Washington researchers have performed what they believe is the first noninvasive human-to-human brain interface, with one researcher able to send a brain signal via the Internet to control the hand motions of a fellow researcher.[479]
28 August
Miniature, pea-sized human brains have been grown in the laboratory from stem cells.[480][481]
Cooling waters in the tropical Pacific Ocean appear to be a major factor in dampening global warming in recent years, scientists say.[482]
UK researchers have created the world's fastest spinning man-made object, achieving 600 million revolutions per minute.[483]
29 August
By reducing the action of a single gene,
mTor, researchers have increased the average lifespan of mice by 20 percent. Their research also shows that the effects of aging are not uniform.[484]
A NASA mission has revealed a new
canyon – 460 miles (750 km) long and 2,600 feet (800 meters) deep in places – hidden below Greenland's ice sheet. This is longer than the
Grand Canyon.[486]
September
1 September – Rising global temperatures are driving
crop pests to higher and lower latitudes at nearly 3 kilometres per year, threatening global food security.[487]
2 September – A team of international scientists has achieved a major breakthrough in
nanosensing.[488]
3 September
A new analysis indicates the amount of
raw materials used to produce goods is far higher than previously thought.[489]
Phase I clinical trials of
SAV001 – the first and only preventative
HIV vaccine – have been successfully completed with no adverse effects in all patients.
Antibody production was greatly boosted after vaccination.[490]
5 September
It has been confirmed that an
undersea volcano in the northern Pacific is not a group of several volcanos. This makes it the largest confirmed volcano on Earth.[491]
Stanford researchers use DNA to assemble a transistor from graphene.[492]
Two leading neurology researchers claim that
prion-like proteins that misfold and aggregate into harmful "seeds" are responsible for brain diseases associated with aging.[493]
Researchers have developed a new method for improving the connections between stacked solar cells. It allows them to operate at concentrations of 70,000 suns worth of energy without losing much voltage as "wasted energy" or heat.[495]
Phase 1 clinical trials of an implantable vaccine to treat
melanoma have been initiated.[496]
Three ancient rivers may once have crossed the
Sahara, allowing early humans to cross from Africa into the Mediterranean about 100,000 years ago, based on a new study.[498]
Trees are speeding up their life cycles in response to climate change, backing up the results of an earlier study.[501]
Rapidly melting sea ice is causing
ocean acidification in the
Arctic to occur at faster rates than previously forecast, with serious implications for the
food web, according to new research.[502]
Americans are living longer and more healthily than ever before, according to one of the most comprehensive studies of its kind. There was a 3.8-year increase in average life expectancy during the previous two decades, with quality-adjusted life expectancy (QALE) also increasing. However, there was a notable rise in
anxiety among young and middle-aged people beginning in 2001.[506]
19 September – Scientists working with the
Curiosity rover on the planet
Mars report "no detection of
atmospheric methane with a measured value of 0.18±0.67 ppbv corresponding to an upper limit of only 1.3 ppbv (95% confidence limit)" and, as a result, conclude that the probability of "current methanogenic microbial activity on Mars" is reduced.[509][510][511]
20 September
Researchers from Cambridge University in England have developed a new technique allowing
carbon nanotube "forests" to be grown at five times the density of previous methods.[512]
Researchers have identified a protein involved in the spread of
brain tumours.[513]
22 September – Researchers have created a "blueprint" for a universal flu vaccine which they say could be available within five years.[514]
The first evidence of
whisper-like behavior in non-human primates has been observed.[516]
Astronomers have discovered the
densest known galaxy, with over 10,000 stars packed into four light years.[517]
Long-term data shows that the
Greenland Sea is warming 10 times faster than the global ocean.[518]
A new genetic analysis shows that the first rapid population growth of humans occurred in the
Paleolithic (60,000-80,000 years ago), rather than the more recent
Neolithic as previously thought.[519]
The
Late Cretaceous period was likely ice-free, with implications for Earth's future climate, based on new research.[520]
25 September
The first mind-controlled prosthetic leg has been created.[521]
A new form of matter has been created that induces photons to behave like a
Star Warslight-sabre.[522]
The first computer made entirely of
carbon nanotubes has been created by Stanford University engineers. It has a 1 bit processor, runs at 1 kHz and features 178 transistors, with 10-200 nanotubes per transistor.[523]
26 September
Palaeontologists have discovered a fossil of the oldest known creature with a
jaw, dating back 419 million years.[524]
Nanoscale resolution MRI has been experimentally achieved.[534]
The first document from the
IPCC Fifth Assessment Report – Working Group I's summary for policymakers – is released. It states that warming of the global climate system is "unequivocal", with a 95% probability that humans are the main cause.[535]
The first commercial-scale
carbon capture and
mineralization plant begins construction in the United States. When completed in 2014, it will capture 300,000 tons of CO2 annually.[539][540]
October
1 October – New fossils of pollen grains show that
flowering plants evolved 100 million years earlier than previously thought, in the
Early Triassic (252 to 247 million years ago) or even earlier.[541]
3 October
Environmental impacts on the world's
oceans are even worse than previously thought, according to a new report.[542][543]
4 October – Researchers from MIT have created self-assembling robots, based on small cubes that can propel themselves and snap together to form shapes.[545]
6 October – Giant channels up to 250m tall have been discovered beneath
Antarctica, stretching for hundreds of kilometres. Researchers say these will help in modelling the future stability and dynamics of the ice sheet.[546]
It is reported that researchers at the
National Ignition Facility in California produced more energy from a
fusion reaction than the fuel absorbed in igniting it – the first time this has been achieved by researchers anywhere in the world.[548]
A new study concludes that research to delay
aging would have greater social and economic benefits than advances in cancer, heart disease and other individual diseases.[549]
8 October
The
Nobel Prize in Physics has been awarded to
François Englert and
Peter Higgs "for the theoretical discovery of a
mechanism that contributes to our understanding of the origin of mass of subatomic particles, and which recently was confirmed through the discovery of the predicted fundamental particle, by the ATLAS and CMS experiments at CERN's
Large Hadron Collider".[550]
Researchers in Germany have taken a major step towards using
graphene in solar cells, which could boost their
efficiency. The material was found to retain its properties even when coated with silicon.[551]
A new microscopic technique allows researchers to image structures as small as 80 nm anywhere inside a cell.[553][554]
10 October – Researchers have discovered the first chemical to prevent all brain cell death from
prion disease in mice. This could lead to drug targets for a range of neurodegenerative conditions in humans - including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's disease.[555][556]
The Graphene Flagship – a ten-year initiative with a billion euros of funding – is launched in Gothenburg, Sweden.[558]
14 October – The first fossil of a mosquito with definitive evidence of
blood has been discovered in northwestern Montana. The find dates back to the
Eocene, some 46 million years ago (the fossil provides only evidence of blood, but not blood itself, so there is no DNA or anything cloneable).[559][560]
Researchers have shown that a fundamental reason for
sleep is to clean the brain of toxins. This is achieved by brain cells shrinking to create gaps between neurons, allowing fluid to wash through.[566]
Using data accumulated over 10 years, researchers have estimated there are 390 billion trees in the
Amazon rainforest, divided into 16,000 different species.[567]
GeneticistBryan Sykes and his team at
Oxford University report that
DNA analysis of presumed
Yeti (or "Abominable Snowman") samples may have come from a hybrid species of
bear produced from a mating between a
brown bear and a
polar bear. According to Sykes, "I think this bear, which nobody has seen alive, may still be there and may have quite a lot of polar bear in it. It may be some sort of hybrid and if its behaviour is different from normal bears, which is what eyewitnesses report, then I think that may well be the source of the mystery and the source of the legend."[568][569]
18 October – Researchers have discovered a source of gut stem cells that can repair a type of
inflammatory bowel disease when transplanted into mice.[570]
21 October – In the Amazon, droughts like that of
2005 may become the norm by 2100, according to a new study that claims the IPCC has underestimated the impacts on the southern part of the rainforest.[571]
22 October – Astronomers have discovered the 1,000th known
exoplanet.[572]
23 October
A new way of locating metal deposits including
gold has been discovered by researchers in Australia. The presence of tiny particles in a
eucalyptus tree's foliage can indicate that these resources are present deep underground.[573]
Astronomers have discovered the most distant
galaxy to date.[574]
Temperatures in the Eastern Arctic are now the highest since the beginning of the
last ice age 120,000 years ago, lying "well outside the range of natural variability", according to US researchers.[576]
27 October
An international team of researchers has doubled the known number of genes linked to
Alzheimers to 21.[577]
Researchers have found a way to shrink the volume of
nuclear waste by 90 percent.[586]
Japanese researchers have demonstrated multi-component
nanoparticles that combine the properties of different materials.[587]
People care more about the longer term when they make decisions in natural environments as opposed to urban, according to research by VU University Amsterdam.[588]
9 November – A major
iceberg measuring 700 square kilometers, roughly the size of Singapore, has broken away from West Antarctica.[591]
11 November
A new imaging technique can help to identify people at high risk of a
heart attack.[592]
Using nanotechnology, researchers at Columbia University have created the world's smallest
FM radio.[593]
13 November
Globally, 2013 is likely to be among the top 10 hottest years since records began, according to a provisional statement from the
World Meteorological Organization.[594]
NASA has produced a video of how Mars may have appeared 4 billion years ago, with blue skies and water.[596]
14 November – Globally, there was a net loss of 1.5 million sq ft of forest between 2000 and 2012, based on 650,000 high-resolution satellite images.[597]
15 November – A fragile quantum memory state has been held stable at room temperature for a "world record" 39 minutes, 100 times longer than ever before.[598]
17 November
Researchers have made the first battery electrode that heals itself, repairing imperfections within a few hours.[599]
The first "mini-kidneys" have been grown from human stem cells.[600]
Researchers at Bonn University have identified an immune gene in humans that originated from
Neanderthals.[611]
Paleontologists have described a newly found dinosaur, Siats meekerorum, that lived 98 million years ago in the
Late Cretaceous. Based on analysis of a juvenile 30 ft specimen, the researchers say the adult version could have reached 40 ft (12 meters) in length – second only to
Tyrannosaurus rex in size, and holding back the dominance of that species until later in the epoch.[612]
24 November
Even if CO2 emissions stop, global warming will continue for centuries, according to a study by Princeton University.[613]
Methane release from the Arctic seafloor is double previous estimates, new research has shown.[614]
25 November – NASA reports that the
Curiosity rover on
Mars has resumed full science operations, with no apparent loss of capability, after completing the diagnosis of an electrical problem first observed on 17 November. Apparently, an internal short in the rover's power source, the
Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator, caused an unusual and intermittent decrease in a voltage indicator on the rover.[615][616]
28 November – The
cometC/2012 S1 (ISON) passed roughly 1,100,000 kilometres (680,000 miles) above the Sun's surface. Although it was highly anticipated that the comet would be visible to the naked eye on Earth once it orbited the Sun,[617][618] it became increasingly evident that it had vaporized as it made its approach. Hours after it passed behind the Sun, a part of the comet re-emerged, though significantly smaller. Over the next 24 hours, it too, faded.
29 November – Scientists report
Comet ISON may have survived its trip around the Sun.[619]
December
1 December – China launches the
Chang'e 3lunar rover mission, with a planned landing on 16 December.[620]
2 December
A study of nearly 1,000 brain scans has revealed striking differences between men and women.[621]
The CIOC (
NASA Comet ISON Observing Campaign) announces that
Comet ISON has fully disintegrated.[622][623] The
Hubble Space Telescope failed to detect fragments of ISON on 18 December 2013.[624] On 8 May 2014, a detailed examination of the comet disintegration was published, suggesting that the comet fully disintegrated hours before
perihelion.[625]
5 December – Researchers have used a human gut microbe to reverse
autism-like symptoms in mice.[635]
8 December – A new way of extracting
hydrogen from rocks and water, potentially offering a new green energy source, has been demonstrated by the University of Lyon.[636][637]
The supervolcano that lies beneath
Yellowstone National Park in the US has a magma chamber that is 2.5 times bigger than earlier estimates suggested.[643]
Ice loss from the
West Antarctic Ice Sheet is accelerating, based on the latest data from
CryoSat-2. Over 150 cubic km of ice is now melting into the sea each year.[644][645]
A new
hydrogel scaffold has been developed for craniofacial bone tissue regeneration, which turns from a liquid to gel in the body, then liquefies again for removal.[647]
A new drug has been shown to reduce the risk of
breast cancer in post-menopausal women by 53 percent.[649]
Researchers have achieved a five-fold increase in the lifespan of
Caenorhabditis elegans, the equivalent of a human reaching 400–500 years of age.[650]
14 December – The uncrewed Chinese
lunar roverChang'e 3 lands on the
Moon, making China the third country to achieve a soft landing there.[653][654]
16 December – An international team of researchers reports evidence that
Neanderthals practiced
burial behavior and intentionally buried their dead.[655]
18 December
Scientists report, for the first time, the entire
genome of a
Neanderthal, an extinct species of
humans. The genome was extracted from the
toe bone of a 130,000-year-old Neanderthal found in a Siberian cave.[656][657]
Astronomers have spotted what appears to be the first known "
exomoon", located 1,800 light years away.[658][659]
Researchers at
Harvard Medical School have achieved a major breakthrough in the study of
aging. By using a chemical that occurs naturally in the human body, it was possible to restore tissues in two-year-old mice to a much younger state.[660][661]
20 December
NASA reports that the
Curiosity rover has successfully upgraded, for the third time since
landing, its software programs and is now operating with version 11. The new software is expected to provide the rover with better
robotic arm and
autonomous driving abilities. Due to wheel wear, a concern to drive more carefully, over the rough terrain the rover is currently traveling on its way to
Mount Sharp, was also reported.[662]
A massive underground reservoir of meltwater has been discovered below
Greenland, storing liquid water all year round and covering 27,000 square miles. This has implications for
sea level rises.[665][666]
30 December –
Earth's crust was unstable during the
Archean era and would have "dripped" down into the
mantle, which was much hotter than today, according to new research.[669]
UNESCO Young Scientist Awards/Michel Batisse Award
UNESCO Young Scientist Awards and Michel Batisse Award for Biosphere Reserve Management: Julio Blas Garcia, Angela Camargo, Bilal Habib, Hilaire Kouakou, Atieh Kazemi Mojarad and Claudia Munera[674][675]
4 May –
Christian de Duve, English-born
Belgian biologist and biochemist, co-recipient of the 1974 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (born 1917).[715]
^O'Leary, Maureen A.; Bloch, Jonathan I.; Flynn, John J.; Gaudin, Timothy J.; Giallombardo, Andres; Giannini, Norberto P.; Goldberg, Suzann L.; Kraatz, Brian P.; Luo, Zhe-Xi; Meng, Jin; Novacek, Michael J.; Perini, Fernando A.; Randall, Zachary S.; Rougier, Guillermo; Sargis, Eric J.; Silcox, Mary T.; Simmons, Nancy b.; Spaulding, Micelle; Velazco, Paul M.; Weksler, Marcelo; Wible, John r.; Cirranello, Andrea L. (8 February 2013). "The Placental Mammal Ancestor and the Post–K-Pg Radiation of Placentals". Science. 339 (6120): 662–667.
Bibcode:
2013Sci...339..662O.
doi:
10.1126/science.1229237.
hdl:11336/7302.
PMID23393258.
S2CID206544776.
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